LLS Graduates: Coach Around the World with LLS
After graduating from LLS, Erin Pullar set off to Pennsylvania for the summer. She’s spending two months working for Camp America, doing sports and horseback riding with kids from all over the world. When she gets back, she’ll be working with Nottingham Forest FC’s netball initiative, as a coach for the Under 17s Player Development Programme. The world is wide open for Erin, and we sat down with her to ask a few questions about how LLS helped her along the way.
Why Join LLS?
A-levels didn’t suit Erin’s needs. She wanted a career in sport, that was that. Doing A-levels wouldn’t have allowed her the freedom to coach netball in her spare time. Moreover, choosing LLS meant that her coaching experience counted towards her qualification.
“Sport was the one thing I was focussed on.”
“I thought, I could take a sports A-level, but then I’d have to pick two others. I’d have to do an exam for something I don’t actually want to do.”
Erin knew she loved sport. She’d always played netball, and was a volunteer coach before joining LLS. Her ambition meant she found the opportunity to work for Nottingham Forest FC’s netball initiative. Starting as assistant coach for the Roots Programme, she developed children with a love for netball. Now, she’s gone on to coach for the Under 17s Player Development Programme (PDP), feeding into the Nottingham Forest Netball academy.
Erin’s initiative and love for sport pushed her to attain these achievements. Coaching was her priority, and that’s why she chose LLS. Our course offers students independence and experience which can’t be found on typical A-level courses.
How did LLS make you a better coach?
“Rich [Erin’s tutor] gave me more confidence. He was really good at picking me up and letting me know that I was actually doing a good job.”
“I actually coached football in Finland [on a trip with LLS].”
“The group that we coached had eight Finnish girls and none of them spoke any English. It was really cool to be able to coach with that language barrier. It’s helped me out [in Pennsylvania] because it’s an international camp, so we’ve got quite a few kids that are from all over. It’s helped with breaking down the language barrier.”
One main aim of the LLS course is to develop our student’s coaching abilities. Erin was already a good coach, but she’d never had to coach a group who couldn’t understand a word she said. New scenarios like this are the most effective way to elevate their skills, while also raising their confidence. After 2 years with LLS, Erin not only advanced as a coach, she gained the opportunity to do what she loves in brand new places. First in Finland, now in Pennsylvania with Camp America.
Graduating from sixth form marks a time of change in a young person’s life. It’s a crossroads where the choices made will define the years that shape their adult lives. Whether it’s university, going straight into employment, or spending time travelling and figuring out their next steps; this period is the start of their journey into adulthood. At LLS we promote independence in our students. We want them to graduate with an understanding of what they want to do next. That’s why we offer so many chances to find the right opportunities for them. Our Global Coaching Conference provides a chance to understand the pathways available to them, while also offering connections and opportunities to kickstart their careers.
